Also, Buran on paper was superior to the US Space Shuttle in many ways, but one glares out to me the most:Ejector Seats and a modern liquid fuel launch system. No more boom on launch. Engines can shut down. One of Burans Computers sees a problem, shuts down rocket, has a partial launch, and then returns to the safety of earth.

Interesting Fact: Buran which means Snowstorm, was named so as it first flew in a Snowstorm.